Nest boxes for Swifts in Bedwas Mike
and Jackie Pointon
The sight and sound of Swifts flying over the village of
Bedwas was one of the joys of summer. Sadly in recent years the numbers have diminished
and last year only three pairs bred here. The birds nested on the eaves of
older buildings, in particular the Junior School and Police Station. There were
often more Swifts about in early May than actually stayed to breed so Jackie
and I had the idea that nest boxes might boost the number breeding at the
school.
Alison Jones, Caerphilly County Ecologist, was contacted and
we met up at the school to view the site and discuss the idea with the
headmaster Mr. Warren. Bedwas Junior School is a Green School and the idea of
nest boxes was greeted with enthusiasm. Katie Hillier, a teacher at the school,
agreed to coordinate activities. Alison suggested that Andy Wilkinson, Senior
Environment Ranger for Caerphilly Borough Council, get involved and he came to
the school to make nest boxes with the pupils. This activity was a great
success and the pupils were very proud of their nest box building, making boxes
for Blue Tits as well as Swifts. The school had by this time purchased three
Swift nest boxes from the RSPB and it was time to get them installed. Kate
Hillier managed to persuade Caerphilly County Borough Council maintenance
department to carry out this work and on Friday 18th March five nest boxes for
Swifts were erected. The nest holes were intially covered up and opened on 1st
May.
Prior to housing development in the village Lesser
Whitethroats were regular breeders. Since that time also the number of House
Martins has reduced dramatically and there is no longer a local Sand Martin
colony on the River Rhymney.
On 11th May BBC Radio Wales came to Bedwas Junior School
having heard about the Swift nest box project via Alan Rosney, the Glamorgan
Bird Club Swift Champion. (Alan not having a swift nest box site in Glamorgan
asked Jackie and me if he could use the Bedwas Junior School project which, is
actually in the Gwent recording area). Swift nest boxes San Frontiers!
On the day the Swifts must have been informed that the Beeb
were in town as they put on a tremendous display, calling and flying low over
the school. Pauline Smith of BBC Wales interviewed the pupils and their teacher
Katie Hillier. The children were delighted to be involved and get their chance
to be on the radio. Pauline then interviewed Alan and myself to give some
background on the project and specific information on Swifts. The programme
Country Focus was broadcast on Sunday 15th may at 07:03 and is available on BBC
iplayer for a further month.
Currently there are eight Swift in Bedwas (last year there
were six) and we have seen them using the traditional nest sites in the school
, though none have yet been seen occupying the nest boxes.
On Thursday 19th May Jackie and I met up with Kerry Galey
from Caerphilly County Borough Councils parks department. Kerry is the warden
of the Rhymney River Walk which passes through Bedwas and Trethomas. We had
suggested to Kerry that we should encourage Sand Martins back to nest in the
area as they did at one time. We located a likely looking spot and plans are
now afoot to create suitable nesting habitat ready for next year.
It has
been rewarding for everyone concerned to attempt to boost the number of Swifts
breeding in Bedwas. We must wait now to see if the project is a success. It has
already been agreed, if things work out well, that a camera should be put in
one of the boxes ready for next year so that the pupils can view the secret
world of Swifts.
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